Guess who's brain woke up and decided to finally write this thing! I honestly have no idea if this is going to work out or not... I just have no idea how to write this. 😅
Welp, here goes nothing.
The last keystone had been placed, and two figures exited the Water Tower, a third person following.
This was it. After all this time they were finally going to face the Puppet Master, fix the island's balance, and generally be the hero.
The first figure, who was a dwarfish fairy, fluttered beside the second, "You don't have to do this now, maybe we should plan first."
"No," started the second, a wizard, "I'm ready."
"We'll see about that," a cold British-accented voice rang.
The wizard looked up to see a familiar gray fairy leaning against the wall, shadows dancing at his feet as the flame of a lantern flickered. Icy amber eyes stared at them, and a long ribbon-like tail flicked impatiently.
"I trust that my peers," he gestured to the gathered wardens and Noot, "would be able to take on the Puppet Master, but you? I never seen you fight, I've been trusting Noot's word for this long but... I won't let any student of the Academy throw themselves in harm's way like this, not without me knowing that they can fend for themselves."
Noot tensed, "What do you propose?"
"Simple. I challenge you... 'Prodigy'." He said the word Prodigy with a tinge of skepticism, tail now lashing.
The fairy guide paled, "You wouldn't..."
The wizard glanced at their companion. This guy wasn't serious, was he? Gale was just a kid like them, what harm could he do? They looked the scrawny fairy up and down, then laughed. "I accept, but are you sure you want to do this?"
The fairy turned to leave, not a trace of worry in his voice, "Meet me outside the doors when you're ready."
The wind howled when the wizard stepped outside the Academy doors, Noot having a visible breakdown besides them.
They smiled at the fairy guide, "Hey, Noot, don't worry. I'll be fine."
"That's what they all said." He muttered darkly.
Suddenly, the wizard was feeling a bit less sure about this. How many people battled Gale before? They were beginning to have second thoughts when a familiar voice rang out.
"Ah, there you are. Are you ready?"
The wizard pulled out their wand and relic ring, as well as sneaking out a couple of runes. "Ready as I'll ever be."
They were not expecting this.
The wizard dashed out of the way of another Super Nova, but their pets weren't as lucky. The majestic creatures scrambled to their feet, retreating at the cost of their dignity.
The wizard gritted their teeth and cast Falling Star Smash, which the fairy simply fey stepped out of the way of before using Forest Hurricane. The wizard once again got up, refusing to back down.
Elemental energy charged at Gale's fingertips, slightly hesitant, How much abuse can they endure?
Yet, despite himself, he took advantage of their pause and blasted them again with Astral Magic.
Chill Out...
Falling Star Smash...
Ion Cannon...
Super Nova...
Forest Hurricane...
Still, the wizard didn't back down. The fairy was in a state of disbelief when he realized what the wizard was holding - runes. Hm. Finally, a real challenge...
The wizard had no choice but to keep casting, starting to wish they hadn't been so sure of themselves and charged up their mana enough to cast an All Out Attack.
Memories of failing the Dark Tower multiple times dues to overconfidence filled their thoughts, and they struggled to block out their fear of failure. Deciding to concentrate on the task at hand, they ignored everything - but that was their mistake.
Finally, due to forgetting to heal themselves, they were forced to surrender.
The fairy looked mildly disappointed but set foot on the ground, "You remind me of Mira. Thinking she was powerful enough to rule the world, only to find she had much to learn. Hmph, maybe it was best she left, she definitely learned."
The wizard looked up at him, out of breath, "I'm guessing I won't be playing hero today, won't I?"
"No, you won't. Noot will heal you, but I expect you to return once you learn." Gale responded without meeting their gaze, lacking his usual etiquette.
"Learn what?"
"What it truly means to be a Prodigy."
With that, the Academy Keeper left, Noot rushing over.
"Are you alright‽"
The wizard struggled to get up, "Sorta."
A gray fairy walked the halls, recalling the prodigious wizards that failed his trials. Crios... Mira... and now the island's last hope.
"Why don't you fight then?" was a question he was once asked. He didn't have an answer at the time, but now he did.
Because he never learned. He never learned why these prodigies such as himself existed, and until he learned... he stopped himself from doing anything else. Yet now, now there was a new prodigy, and they had to learn too...